Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-12

LEGISLATORS ought to be mindful OF the Inter-
ests of such grand old city as Bangor, it
ought not protect them at the expense OF the
interests of the whole State.
Mr.. Powers quoted the language OF the
Canadian Minister Of Railways, that the d.
rect purpose of this road was to connect the
Canadian upper and lower provinces, and
thus "cut off the American ports, and was
it a good position for this Canadian subsidized
road to come to this legislature and ask for
charter for railroad that would cut OH
American ports, after the wrongs they had
already inflicted OF American fishermen.
On motion of Mr.. Dickey of Fort Kent,
the House took recess until 2.30.
AFTERNOON.
Bill an act to amend the charter Of the
Gardner Water Company came from the
Senate, rules suspended and passed to be en-
crossed. Rules suspended and bill passed to
be engrossed in concurrence.
Mr.. Shaw, from the Committee on Finan-
cial Affairs, presented bill an act to fix the
salary of the Treasurer of State and the
| compensation of clerks in the Treasury
Office.
| The rules were suspended on Mr.. Shaw
| motion, the bill read the third time and
passed to be engrossed.
The House resumed consideration of the
| Megantic Railroad question.
| Mr.. Dickey thought this was supply an at
| tempt on the part of the Bangor & Piscata-
quis road to make the new road buy por-
ton of theirs. He thought it to the interests
of Aroostook to have this new road built.
He thought the Bangor people little incon'
sistent. Two years ago they wanted this
road built over Moosehead Lake; now this
bill proposed that and they opposed it.
MIR. Scott cited the history of the charters
granted to this new road. He believed they
ought to respect the contract which they had
made with the Bangor & Piscataquis and
which was ratified and confirmed by the acts
of the legislatures of Maine granting those
charters. Behind this thin shadowy Megan-
| tic he could see the gigantic form of the
| Maine Central, trying to swallow up this
small railroad enterprise maintained by the
people Of Bangor.
granting any charter to this road. He re-
ferred to the quotation made by the gentle
man from Houlton from the report of the
| Canadian minister of railways; and he re-
ferred to the fact that the British govern
ment had refused to substitute the two great
| lines of steamers that now run to Portland
the Allan and the Observation-Disclosures they
shall hereafter run to Halifax and ST. Johns
instead of Portland; and that was the mean.
ing of the Canadian minister of railways
when he spoke of cutting off the American
ports. 1t would inJure Portland incidentally
and Ranger and Wiscasset, diverting the
products of which they were now the proper
and best outlet to the Canadian ports.
Mr.. Allen of Alfred was opposed to the
minority report. He did not believe this
new road would injure the Bangor & Piscat
aqu!s. He called attention to the action of
this government in allowing the Boston and
Maine and Eastern roads to come into the
State years back, and wished to know if that
injuredthe smaller roads connecting Portland
with Portsmouth and adjacent cities at that
time. 1t had not; it had given the people
better accommodations, the roads had been
| built up, and they had better cars, cheaper
| rates and better equipments in every way
He believed III chartering roads all over the
State it was beneficial
| Mr.. Billings of Brownvile thought that as
his friends from Bangor had argued this
question from local standpoint. he wonld
| be justified in referring to the advantages
this road would bring to the town he repre-.
scented. He spoke of the large slate deposits
in the town where he lived, vein which this
road proposed would open and develop up.
AS to the arguments of contracts between
these roads, he thought promises by railroads
were all more or less broken. He cited the
promises Of the Bangor & Piscataquis road to
make branch connection with Brownville
and opeL up this great slate deposit, increase
the wealth of the town and make it a great
center Of industry, provided they would help
to build the road to Dover. They had helped
| to build the road as asked, but the branch
| connection had never be n made
Mr.. Hayden of Sangervile wished to saw
for the people of his district that they were
IN cooperation with the interests of Bangor
IN TINS matter. He could not see WHY this
road did not maintain its fifteen mile limit
He had hunted and fshed on this ground. and
he knew that the limit could be maintained.
This new road would injure greatly the Ban
gor Piscataquis, into which the people of
his county had put their money and that
they shouid be protected. He thought 1t
very unjust to grant this charter
Mr.. Dawson replied to the remarks of his
friend from Sangerville. He too had known
this ground well. He knew of many explor.
ing parties who ha searched it weeks and
months, one especially who had examined
the proposed route for five months IL was
IN his judgment the proper and feasible one
Mr.. Shaw Of Portland had at first been in
favor OF this Megantic road, but from con.
| versadon he had had and what ne had heard
not from Bangor men. he became convinced
that this road never was intended to be built
and never would be built at all that it was
simply to force the Bangor & Piscataquis to
stand and deliver, 1t had seemed a little
suspicious, the manner in which these gen.
tlemen had edged up to this thing year after
year. And again, abiding to the railroad
map displayed on the wall. he knew it was
much easier for railroad engineer to make
railroad look straight on a map than it was
when he came to build it; he always admired
the skill with which they exhibited such
straight railroads on maps. He did not be-
heve there was such great difference in the
distance of these two roads between
the places named.
Mr.. Roberts of Brunswick had been. too.
in favor of the Megsntc road, but if the
Bangor & Piscataquis road could not be made
to conform to the requirements of the Canad-
ian subsidy, WHY need that road make such
opposition to the amendment proposed by the
Bangor people. That amendment provided
that If the Bangor & Piscataquis road could
not be made to conform to those reoure.
meDts, the Megantic road could 20 and build
where they pleased.
I Mr.. Noble of Lewiston referred to the con.
tract between these roads, ratified bv legis.
lative enactment. The constitution declared
that the legislature should pass no law that
would impair the obligation of a contract.
Why could not this Megantic road complv
with that compact in good faith,-a contract